LEY HILL LOSE OPENER

Let Hill 1^st lost their opening league fixture against Ballinger, largely because no one had bothered to read the script. What always happens: one side score a total and the other side are all out – or nearly all out – within one run of that score – i.e. every match is astonishingly close.

So, when Ballinger were 4 – 1 - during a spell in which Jake Wells had bowled five maidens (and we’re not talking about Andy Rennard’s fans who walked past at this point) out of seven overs - we could have been forgiven for thinking we were onto a winner. Sadly, the next wicket didn’t fall until 102 was on the board. Although this wasn’t too bad when you take into consideration Ballinger were by then in their 26^th over.

“One gets two,” shouted Az (interminably) and he was right! Another wicket at 106, another at 112 and was this to be the Hill’s day? Well, it appeared so. A couple of “tail-enders” held on in there to drag the score to 206-8 after 45 overs, but (remember the script?) the Hill were in with a chance here.

Ballinger’s MacIntyre had scored 82, having been dropped on 4 and Riley made 49 having been dropped in 3, so it was pretty normal fielding for the Hill. Krankie ended in 4-31 and Jake deserved better than 2-34, as did Jon Lown who went for only 33 from 11 but failed to get a wicket. Andy Rennard was hit around the park whilst bowling medium pace but once he’d been allowed to go back to spin he stopped being hit and took 3 wickets ending on 3-57 from 7.

Nonetheless, 206 was a gettable target. It was. It’s just that no one told the batsmen.

The first wicket fell at 20 (Kash for 19) and then Az went for 13 at 42, and then a mid order collapse with wickets falling on 42, 45, and two on 52. Ollie Runswick steadied the ship with a lovely 62 and was ably assisted by a spirited 23 from Ian Birkett (how good to see him back!) before he got out to one of those utterly daft run-outs that occur from time to time. Then another collapse taking the Hill to 153-9. Suddenly the batsmen realised it was still get-able. Krankie and Jake started hitting the bowlers until Jake was stumped (and many would say it was a poor decision – the same would be said of the six LBW’s given by the same umpire – no, not your chairman) and the Hill were all out for 184 (Jake making 24).